Gloria Oliver by In Service Of Samurai Read Free Book Online Page B

do not affect us as much when we are under water.”
    He sighed, hoping with any luck it would be soon. “Does the ship travel while underwater?”
    “Yes, a little. Though nowhere near as far as when we are above.”
    “How does it do that?” he asked. “Stay underwater, I mean.”
    The geisha was silent a moment before responding. “We don’t really know. It just does. Many things about our new existence just are. We have no explanation.”
    He nodded, knowing many things about spirits made little sense. “Why don’t you stay above during the daylight, too, then?” he asked. “Wouldn’t it get you where you are going sooner?”
    Miko picked up his soiled clothes and rose to her feet. “You’re a curious one, aren’t you?” She started toward the door. “Let me take these from here so they won’t smell up the room.”
    The geisha stood in the doorway and glanced back at him. He stayed silent, not pointing out her obvious evasion of his question.
    “You’re in need of other things as well,” she said. “Before I return, I’ll see what I can find for you.”
    He then saw her tilt her head toward him; and for some reason he was sure, beneath her mask, she was smiling.
    “There are so many things I’ve forgotten,” she said. “You’ve brought back many memories to me, Toshi-kun.”
    Not understanding what she meant, he watched her as she silently left and closed the door behind her.
    Wondering how long she would be gone, he rose from the floor and shuffled over to pour another half-cup of tea.
    The geisha was gone for a long time. He’d just begun to doubt she would return when he heard a muffled call from beyond his closed door. Surprised, he got up and rushed to open it.
    He stepped back as Miko fell through the doorway. Without thinking, he reached out to steady her. His hands didn’t sink through her kimono as he might have expected, but found what felt like a solid body underneath. Trying to hide his amazement, he scurried back as Miko stooped to set her burden down.
    “It took a little doing, but I’ve been able to find a futon and a couple more blankets for you. I did take the liberty of bringing some games and a few other things as well.”
    His surprise at her solidity was replaced with gratitude as he stared at the thick futons she spread on the floor. Flipping off his sandals, he stepped onto them, eager for the warmth and protection they would grant him. “Thank you, Miko-san. This is wonderful!”
    “Well, I only thought if you have to be seasick, you might as well do it while being as comfortable as you can.” Miko left the room then, but returned almost immediately with a number of packages.
    He paid her little attention, wallowing in the heat he could feel gathering about him as he added the new blankets to the one already about him.
    “I must apologize we did nothing about this earlier. While we had thought of some of your other needs, it has been some time since we’ve had to consider the warmth or coldness of our surroundings.”
    As she spoke, Miko stepped to sit behind him. Without asking, she began working on his tangled and disheveled hair.
    “Miko-san, if I might ask?” he said shyly. “How long have you and the others, well, been as you are now?”
    “How long have we been dead, Toshi-kun? You can say it. We’ve all had a long time to learn to deal with the fact.” He felt his dark hair tumble to his shoulders as Miko released it. She combed it as she answered his question. “Our bad fortune befell us over eight years ago.”
    He tried to glance back at her, his face covered with astonished disbelief. Miko gently turned his head until he was facing forward again.
    “So long, Miko-san? And you still haven’t completed your journey?”
    “We’ve tried and tried, but fate has not been with us. The same lack of knowledge that impeded us in life still works on us in death—and there have been other things. But it wasn’t until recently that a new way opened